Players:
Khasra, a middleaged Shkrill Wing-Captain
Khasra is a fairly compact, young falcon based gryphon. His feathers are white with a peppering of black in the manner of a gyrfalcon, with fairly small eartufts on his head. His rump is furred in light eggshell, like a bleached lion. His forelegs are light yellow with long ebony talons, matching the black retractable claws on his hindpaws. He looks to be a young adult, strong and agile, packed with hard muscle from his long pointed wingtips to his powerful haunches. His ice-blue eyes stare around him, watching.. for what? The only spot of color on his body is a large chevron of crimson on his left hauch, like a splatter of blood on pure snow, which marks him as a member of Shkrill Clan. A narrow band of leather runs around his neck, almost buried under the feathers, with a pouch in front to contain his most treasured posession.
Lakija, a younger personal-guard gryphoness
Lakija is a young gryphoness, and really rather pretty in her own way, with grey/white feathers adorning her chest and wings. Her hindquarters are sleek like those of a cheetah or panther, but are as dark a grey as her feathering. She's rather new to the important job of guarding the Queen's quarters, and so does everything carefully so as to not get in trouble.
Rakeeth, a foppish Windhaven flight-captain
This is a large broadwing gryphon, his feathers ranging from a pale off-white on his neck and belly, all the way to savannah golden out along the tips. For a clan with a reputation for being soft and weak, there is little evidence of either characteristic in this muscled, wary drake. He has an intense, prideful gaze that flicks rapidly from one place to another, the playful glitter in his eye denoting both wit and intellect. Atop his neckruff, four silver dyed feathers mark his rank as Flight Captain in the Windhaven Guards, second only to the Flight Master. Scars visible on his tawny leonine flanks and haunches give testament to his battle experience, and more surely lie hidden under the dense plumage of his forequarters. His gold-tufted tail has a tendency to twitch and curl from side to side behind him when he is distracted by thought. This battered warrior has a kind, confident expression, beak often gaping at some unspoken irony.
Telgan, Journeyman mage to the Windhaven
Telgan is a gryfalcon, with shorter claws and longer, more pointed wings than most gryphons. He is also slightly smaller than the broadwings he lives with. His breast and throat are cream-white, with horizontal bars of charcoal black. His grey-yellow beak, the same color as his scaled foreclaws from the 'elbow' down, is surrounded by slate grey feathers in a patch under each eye, that joins over his beak and runs back over his head, neck, back, and wings. His hindquarters are furred in the same slate grey, including his tailtuft, with the exception of a shock of white fur on his belly that quickly tapers to a point at the base of his ribcage.
Ja'hreet, the Head Librarian of the Windhaven
A gryphon, quite obviously. A glider, from the western portions of Shrilk. Hawk-headed and lion-bodied, he stands before you. He's a bit on the light side in build, thinning as he ages, looking almost lanky, despite his slightly shorter than average height. His coat is colored simply, tawny gold throughout, save a darker tailtuft. His feathers are a dark russet, with dark grey circlets within, highlighted in places by subtle featherdye patterns, having still not quite lost his enjoyment of embellishment. Below a pair of active eartufts and a slightly dished forehead are his eyes, still bright, but losing that look of eagerness of youth, and taking on, more and more, the quiet constancy of middleage. Across one of his eyeridges is the faint remains of an old scar, one of only a few, this gryphon having obviously found different means to resolve his differences with others. He regards you, feathers around the nares ruffling slightly as he breathes.
The mag-lev train that the centaurs built may as well be magic to Khasra and Lakija, the Shkrill emissaries sent by Queen Elizarraraz to the far-off sphere of Nahutal. Movement without exertion is different and unique, and not unwelcome after the long walk from Fort Crag to Auyborune. The train has arrived in the port city of Cabalara after about an hour's journey, and the two gryphons step out onto the crowded boardwalk. Centaurs go about their business, although several stop to stare at the strange creatures from the neighboring sphere.
Khasra hisses softly and shakes his head. "Welcome to dinner central," he growls under his breath to Lakija.
Lakija shakes her head. "Not on their home ground... here we're the pets."
But Khasra and Lakija aren't the only gryphons here. Down the street are two familiar Windhaven, who are as unfamiliar in their surroundings as the Shkrill.
Ja'hreet hrrrs, looking to the north at those who approach.
Telgan smirks a little... "Hello, Shkrill," he calls out. "You're responding to the invitation as well?"
Khasra's feathers slick down a bit but he nods. "Yes, we are. The Queen is interested in the new sphere as well."
Lakija sidles up to Khasra, and mumbles audibly. "Are we supposed to be talking to them?"
Ja'hreet looks about, amused by the reactions of the centaurs about here to the uncommonly seen gryphons.
Khasra chuckles a little. "I imagine we'll have to.."
Telgan preens his wing. "Yes, otherwise we'll be having a very /quiet/ voyage. Let's try not to fight too much, though... hm?"
Lakija sneers at Telgan, "Afraid you'll lose? That's understandable." her wings flicker in amusement.
Ja'hreet shakes his head silently... Typical Shkrill...
Telgan just grins a bit. "I'd have doubted you were a Shkrill if you'd said any different.
Lakija looks at Khasra knowingly. Typical frail-clawed cowards, she seems to say. Instead she nudges the other Shkrill. "Wing Captain, if we're supposed to take a ship, we need to find which one."
Khasra flicks his wings. "Just don't stand too close to the rail, rrr? Wouldn't want to lose any Windhaven over the side.." He flicks his tail against Lakija and nods. "Excuse us."
Lakija leaves with Khasra, moving toward the salty-sea breezes and the sandy beaches. Near the beach is the harbor, where many ships - anything from small wooden motor-driven fishing boats to larger steel vessels. The most interesting ones to the gryphons are the inter-sphere capable sail clippers, which are known to make voyages across the watery southern sphere. Telgan and Ja'hreet follow the Shkill - their destination is one and the same.
Lakija is at a small, centaur-manned booth, talking to the being within. She pulls away and says, to Khasra, "There's only one ship that goes to Nahutal, Khasra. Its called The _Halcyon Dream_. Its that one over there." She points it out with a thin claw.
Khasra nods slowly, grunting. "See that our cargo gets loaded, then."
Telgan follows after the Shkrill, carrying no luggage whatsoever.
Ja'hreet follows Lakija's glance, and looks to the ship, considering. A thing he has read of, but never seen.
The _Halycon Dream_ is a clipper ship, with handsome sails and masts, and has amixed crew of centaurs and Iowans. Lakija, who has already arranged for passageon the ship, is talking to one of the Iowans. Several Centaurs load about 5 wooden crates onto the vessel.
Ja'hreet looks to Telgan, believeing that his things have allready been loaded. Himself, he carries nothing but a small carrypouch.
Telgan pads towards the gangplank, nodding slightly to the crew as he makes his way onboard.
Ja'hreet watches the loading for a moment, and follows soon after Telgan, up the plank.
Khasra watches the crates get loaded, then waits for the other Shkrill to climb on board. He pads as far forward as possible, looking out over the bow.
The centaurs keep a good distance from the Gryphons, treating them more like dangerous beasts than paying passengers. The Iowans are almost recklessly careless- acting with a sort of supreme confidence that seems inherent in their race. Lakija climbs aboard the ship well after Ja'hreet does, not wanting to cause trouble with him here... in front of so many eyes.
Telgan tries to find an out-of-the-way spot on deck -- not an easy proposition -- and sits down. He carefully curls his taiil around his feet, trying to look friendly and dignified.
Ja'hreet hrrrs, looking back briefly in her direction, before making way. Khasra makes a point to look as imposing as possible--can't let Telgan give the species a bad reputation.
Telgan calls Ja'hreet over with a whistle.
Lakija keeps away from the Windhaven, and peers over the edge of the deck at the shallow water which laps up against the ship's hull. A worried look goes over her brow - how would gryphons fare if the ship were to sink? Meanwhile, crew members hurry to and fro as they prepare to get the ship underway.
Ja'hreet settles near Telgan, clicking his beak slightly, as he watches Khasra. He shakes his head slowly, and shrugs his wingshoulders.
Khasra pads slowly over to Lakija, making a point to lock eyes for a second longer than is comfortable with anyone in his path. "What's the matter?"
Telgan is having a similar conversation wiht Ja'hreet. "Is something wrong? You keep glancing at that younger one."
Lakija turns, dropping her claws from the wooden railing that surrounds the ship. "Its nothing," she says confidently, flicking her wings against her flank. She looks distrustfully over at the Windhaven, at the centaurs, and even at the rolling ocean.
Ja'hreet chortles softly. "Nervous of water, hen?" He shrugs. "No matter. Your companion Khasra, I know. You are unfamiliar. Perhaps introductions are in order, at least to keep up the pretense of civility? I am Ja'hreet, Librarian of Windhaven."
The gryphoness is about to answer when down the pier toward the ship rushes a large broadwinged gryphon. Ja'hreet and Telgan instantly recognize him as one ofWindhaven's flight captains, Rakeeth. He scrambles aboard the ship, fluffing up his feathers, "Hrrrrr.... ssssorrry."
Ja'hreet chortles, and rises, dipping his head to the newcomer. "Rrrakeeth. I was beginning to fear you would not make it."
Khasra rolls his eyes a bit and murmurs to Lakija, "Great. Anotherrr one.."
Rakeeth pauses a moment as he sees the Shkrill along for the ride... not upset or even surprised, but certainly wary... "Hrrrf, barely. A... distraction. I will tell you of it later, perhaps."
Lakija hisses uncomfortably at Ja'hreet. "Only when its enough to kill me," she says. "I am Lakija of the Shkrill, under Tinrak's command." She says this to both Ja'hreet and the newly arrived Rakeeth.
Rakeeth clucks, "Hrrrrft... why do you keep all the cute little hummingbirds to yourselves?" He murmers to Khasra, "It isn't neighborly to covet. A good day to you, lovely lady." He rumbles to Lakija, giving a small click of his beak and duck of his head in polite deference, though the motion is perhaps exaggerated slightly beyond sincerety.
Telgan says, "It's all right, Rakeeth. Make yourself as comfortable as you can." He pauses, as he approaches the flight captain. "I'm glad you made it, though."
Rakeeth hrrrs, "So am I..." He steps over and click beaks politely with Telgan and Ja'hreet.
Lakija stares a little at Rakeeth, who isn't quite like the other two Windhaven. Now outnumbered by that clan, she steps back away from the three and closer to Khasra. "So many..." she whispers to him.
Ja'hreet chortles. "You've one already, Rakeeth... More yet you desire?" He chortles. "Though I cannot fault you..."
Khasra winks at his friend and nods. "But we are the ones who have them outnumbered."
Lakija looks at the larger gryphon like he was blind. "They are three and we are two!" she points out.
Rakeeth gives Khasra an indulgent, good natured look and just beak gapes amusement at him for a moment, before settling in, reckoning the boat is going to be moving fairly soon. He finds a grill running across the deck that is easy for him to fasten his foreclaws into, lest the ship lurch suddenly, and mantles his wings slightly for balance.
Indeed, the centaurs have already removed the rope that ties the ship to the pier, and the Iowans move amongst the rigging and sails like they were squirrels. They swing from mast to mast on thick ropes, their awkward forms surprisingly adept in this environment.
Khasra gives Ja'hreet a smirk and brushes Lakija with a wing. "Which means we outnumber them by at least one of them." then to Ja'hreet, "If you want to join Shkrill, I'm sure something could be arranged..."
Telgan settles his wings. "I doubt it!" he laughs. "How many of them would YOU say we're worth?"
The ship slides smoothly away from the pier as a small crowd gathers on the beach to watch the majestic ship turn toward the open ocean. A clickity-clack sound starts below decks as the engines are turned on. Two or three Iowans that are still on the rigging and masts hang on to the ship as it begins to move.
Ja'hreet looks skyward to the... creatures aloft, and shakes his head... Such strange forms. He smiles to Khasra. "I've too much of my life invested in the Windhaven Library to start another one. Speak to a younger drake than I." He chortles, and adds, "Besides. This body of mine has grown too used to the fat days and depraved nights of Windhaven. Not fit at all for your clan."
Khasra gives Ja'hreet a shrug. "A certain number will always fail the.. entrance exams."
Ja'hreet nods. "And I'd so hate to waste myself thus. Even in the interest of the library."
Telgan bumps Ja'hreet with a wing. "When are those, praytell? No fat days since the invasion... and I don't think I've ever had a depraved night."
Ja'hreet laughs. "Leaner than most, perhaps, but still not bad... As for the nights, if you haven't then you're missing the fun, drake!"
"I'm sure Ja'hreet will show you one!" cackles Lakija, as the pier becomes more distant with each passing second.
Khasra turns around to pad toward the bow as the ship accelerates, looking out over the water. In the process a centaur crewman gets a long, nerve-wracking stare.
Rakeeth is... if not like a kid in a candy store, perhaps a bit more like a parrot surrounded by shiny metal objects. His head cocks this way and that, and his feathers continue to fluff up more and more as the ship moves faster and the wind washes over him. Still, he keeps a light grip on the grating to avoid slipping around, as the boat is rocking over the waves, and gryphon claws/paws just aren't meant for gripping a smooth deck...
Telgan chuckles. "I think not. He's too.... male." He shrugs and turns his eyes outboard, watching the shore slip away. He decides not to cling, but tries to roll with the ship so that he stays upright without having to hang on so tightly.
The Gryphons' conversation is interrupted by a voice that seems to emminate from nowhere, yet reverberates through the air. "This is your captain speaking. Welcome to the _Halcyon Dream_, providing service between Cabalara and Nahutal. To all our passengers I bid you a sincere welcome aboard. Lunch will be served shortly, and we have good weather forecast for all of Mythrayel."
Ja'hreet stretches his wings... "I've seen Shkrill hens who have grown spoiled by the ways of the Windhaven." He gives a glance to Rakeeth, and shrugs. "All a matter of mindset."
Rakeeth chuckles, "I wouldn't say spoiled... hrrr... unless you contend that she is not as tough as she was before, in which case... she might wish, words with you." He gapes his beak at Ja'hreet.
Khasra looks unimpressed. "I've seen one who walked out." He jerks his beak upward at the voice, jerking it back and forth as he tries to locate the source, padding slowly toward one loudspeaker.
Rakeeth t'kawsss, "There is no point in senseless bickering. We are all herrre to enjoy a journey, are we not? We represent gryphons to these people we are traveling to, shall we at least attempt to show some solidarity?".
Ja'hreet chortles. "Not implying that in the least, dear friend. Just thinking out loud that perhaps our life isn't best thought so poorly of by those who haven't been afforded a good sampling of it." He dips his head to the pair of Shkrill. "Nor will I make judgements of your ways."
Telgan snorts. He'll make judgements, all right -- he just won't air them to all and sundry. "Judge the actions," he mutters to himself.
Rakeeth glances between the Shkrill, "I think even our eastern companions would agree that presenting ourselves as... divided and therefore vulnerable to foreigners is not perhaps a wise course of action."
Khasra rumbles absently, "I'll belive it when I see it." He shakes his feathers out and shrugs a bit. "It's not as if anyone else speaks Gryphon..."
Rakeeth hrrrrrrs, "And so what if they do not? Angry gryphons are not exactly hard to spot..." But he shrugs his wings. "Have it how you like - it is a suggestion on my part. It is your border most likely to be threatened."
The loudspeaker announcements were, of course, in common, and were repeated more than once in a couple of different languages that the gryphons didn't understand. Meanwhile, some Iowans have begun to set up some shiny metal bowls and containers, which even from here carry the smell of roasted meat.
Rakeeth glances out over the waters, then back at land which is beginning to dwindle in the distance. He gapes his beak, the smell of the meat drifting through his nares. "Iowan beef. Legendarrrrry."
Ja'hreet nods, and scritches over Rakeeth's back with the tip of his beak, drawing quiet for at least a moment. He's stirred up enough trouble allready.
Rakeeth rrrrrs, stretching out appreciatively for Ja'hreet to skratch. His feathers are already as ruffled up as they're going to get, as he enjoys the wind through his feathers in a way he hasn't since last he was able to fly.
Lakija's head perks up as she looks over at the Iowans setting up for lunch. A couple of Centaur crew members have already come by and gotten their food, since they wanted the uncooked, leafy portions. "Khasra, look at that."
Ja'hreet raises an eyeridge, following her gaze.
Khasra moves over to one of the cooking Iowans and peers over its shoulder. Apparently he enjoys using his aquiline features to good advantage to make others uncomfortable.. and perhaps this little one will abandon the meat before it's too burned.
The Iowan doesn't seem nervous at all, perhaps embroiled in the overwealming sense of confidence that the Iowan species seems to possess. "Sir, if you move to the front of the cart, I'll be able to serve you better," he says in common, maintaining a cheerful smile upon his flattened face.
Telgan grins. "I don't mind it cooked," he says, glancing at the Shkrill.
Rakeeth is something on a connoisseur of cooked meat, though he will happily eat it raw as well... and the smell of cooking is enough to get him to unfasten his claws and walk -cautiously- across the deck to observe the Iowans and upcoming lunch... He hopes they have enough to feed five hungry gryphons.
Ja'hreet keeps up the scritching over Rakeeth's back, though chortles, mumbling. "He's going to get us all killed."
Khasra also wonders if this ship is stocked to accomodate gryphons.. if it were, one would expect more deer and less monkeys. He flicks his tail in slight annoyance and rumbles, "Of courrrse," in his most imposing, careful Common.
One of the Iowans hands Khasra a bowl which is filled with shredded meat. Its cooked, but not very well - pink areas still show everywhere. "All you can eat, sir," says the Iowan in a drawled common.
Lakija, meanwhile, prances up behind Khasra to see what he's got.
Ja'hreet shrugs, and steps forward as well, following after Rakeeth, knowing at least what to expect.
Khasra takes the bowl and nods a bit. "I will be back," is his only comment, nodding at Lakija. "It burned the meat," he complains in gryphon, but not too loudly.
Rakeeth comes forward as well, not shy of closing ranks with the Shkrill, giving a beckoning "Coo" to Ja'hreet. Still, he doesn't push, giving a polite cluck to Lakija, his flank rubbing lightly against hers for a moment.
Lakija steps back away from the Windhaven as he crowds in against her, looking at him with a confused and disturbed glance. She gets a bowl from an Iowan, and joins Khasra on the deck, picking through the "burned" pieces of meat. The loudspeakers blare another announcement. "In a few moments, we'll be going through the Interface into the open sea," it intones. "Passengers toward the front of the ship will be able to see the Crossing." And indeed, past the bow there is the shiny glimmer - the tell-tale sign of an Interface.
Ja'hreet chortles, watching as his friend womanizes. Or at least tries to. He's not sure how far he'll get with this hen. It will be interesting to see, regardless. He gives an amused grin at Khasra's comments.,/p>
Telgan shakes his head, glancing at Rakeeth. "Gonna get hurt if he keeps that up," he opines in a low voice, directed at Ja'hreet.
Rakeeth doesn't pursue Lakija, giving her a polite cluck as she retreats, stepping forward to collect his own bowls... a hungry gleam in his eye.
Khasra lifts his head from the bowl (which is far too small) and watches the interface approach. He wolfs down his food - food that's eaten can't be stolen.
Ja'hreet takes one in turn, but waits for Rakeeth to pick someplace to eat, before settling beside him, and starting in on the food.
Khasra murmurs to Lakija as she joins him, "Just ignore him. He wants to keep us off balance." He stands up and nods to her, and returns to the cook. "More raw this time," he requests, returning the bowl.
Lakija rather cat-like, sprawls in the sunlight with her bowl, and eats a few strips. The taste is strange to her, since the meat is Iowan beef and not the deer, fish, or rabbit that she is used to.
Rakeeth settles over close to that grate again so he can dig one claw in... he knows the boat is going to have to use those big sails once the interface is crossed, and deck is going to slant most likely, which could make things interesting. Travelling when one is younger has its benefits. He gives a beckoning coo to Ja as he begins to tear into his meat, savoring the bits of it that have been carbonized.
Ja'hreet brushes a wing against Rakeeth's flank, giving a brief glance to the Shkrill, before diverting his attention to the meat.
Lakija is still picking through her bowl while Khasra tries to get another one.
The interface gets nearer and nearer, and in preparation the Iowans have lowered the sails. The tip of the ship begins to touch the interface barrier...
Rakeeth lifts his head to watch, prepared for the telltale tingle of an interface crossing...
Telgan puts down the bowl he was eating from, steadying himself before crossing the interface. They've never agreed with him, really... Always makes him dizzy.
Ja'hreet looks up briefly, as the interface nears, before dipping his head once more to the meat.
Khasra lays down nonchalantly beside the other Shkrill, unsure how the ship will react. He studies the crew, noting whether they take any particular handholds.
Rakeeth gapes his beak, flicking his tongue across it to gather some of the juices that escaped earlier as he finishes his bowl, "Hrrr..."
As the ship passes through the interface and the tingle of the Crossing goes over the gryphons, it is soon replaced by the tingle of pouring rain hitting the deck. Huge gusts of wind blow across the ship, causing the rain to fall almost horizontally, stinging against exposed skin. Iowans and Centaurs alike run all over the deck as the ship rocks!
Rakeeth gives a sharp Rrrrrrkkk! of irritation, his feathers slicking down as they get wet and he takes a tighter grip of the deck grating, letting his bowl slide away as the ship rocks - it's empty anyway.
Lakija meanwhile looks up as her bowl almost instantly fills with water. She squarks, digging her claws into the wooden deck which pitches dangerously beneath her.
Ja'hreet slicks his ears back sharply. "Rrrrrr..." he grumbles. "Such planning."
Telgan squawks in alarm as he's abruptly immersed in a squall! He snaps his wings tight against his sides and ducks, as if trying to get away from the rain... "Bloody..!"
Khasra ducks his head sharply and mantles over his own bowl as rain slices down, watching the crew scurry around the deck..
Rakeeth can only rumble in agreement, not wanting to open his beak and swallow water. Soaked and dissheveled gryphons really lack the same kind of... majesty. He can't help but give a little snrk when he sees the two shkrill through the heavy rain, although he knows that Ja and himself don't look any better.
The wind is so strong, in fact, that a portion of the sail has been torn from the mast. The crew races back and forth like scurrying ants. "Attention passengers. Please go below decks until the storm has passed," the captain advises. The ship pitches back and forth. This time the voice doesn't come from the previous loudspeakers, but from a large curved white pipe set in the deck.
Rakeeth grunts, "And we arrre ssuppossed to get therre how?" He grumbles, twisting awkwardly... the ship heaves. This is a real storm, the heaves of the ship are not gentle ones. Still, he makes his way awkwardly towards the hatch he spotted earlier, aware he is starting to feel a little bit, nauseous, for some reason.
Lakija isn't starting to feel nauseous, she started to feel this way the moment the ship started to pitch. She coughs a strange hacking dry heave, and looks completely miserable in the pouring rain.
Ja'hreet hrrrs... He rises slowly as well, bowl and now waterlogged meat forgotten, and follows after Rakeeth, weaving with the rocking of the ship..
Telgan turns, after hearing the message, and charges towards the hatchway. His hindclaws are out fully, digging into the deck as he makes a recklessly fast dash for it. Obviously a bad idea, as the gusting wind and rolling deck conspire to send him sprawling.
Rakeeth staggers a few steps, and looks over, seeing Lakija looking none too well he diverts in her direction, "You need help, hummingbird?" He calls out to her, offering a claw to draw her along...
Lakija is so completely dizzy she doesn't even understand what it is Rakeeth is saying - not like it matters, since she can barely hear him admist the noise of the rain and wind. There is the distant sound of splintering wood...
Khasra quickly gulps the remaining meat and stands up, using his wings for balance as he makes his way aft to the inside. "Lakija!"
Ja'hreet looks back over his shoulder, to Lakija, wondering if she will take it... At the splintering, his head jerks, looking towards it.
Rakeeth stumbles another step, this time seizing Lakija by the claw... its obvious she's dazed and out of it, he starts fighting his way aft again, towards that hatch... Though he is starting to think it might not be such a good idea with the sounds of breaking wood he's hearing...
Rakeeth lets out a howling skrrrrrrreeeee! to let the other gryphons know their coming through the downpour... but even that sound is washed away by the torrential rain and howling wind.
Visibility reduced, Ja'hreet can't make out what broke, or where. Nevertheless, there is little that can be done about the splintering noise. Lakija, meanwhile, looks up at her shouted name at the same time Rakeeth seizes her and pulls her toward the hatch.
Ja'hreet stays close, keeping at Rakeeth's side till they reach the hatch. Once almost there, he lurches forward, and pulls it sharply open.
Telgan rights himself and, hunched against the rain, makes his way towards the hatchway. Not as though anyone could tell, given the conditions, but he favors his right hindleg slightly.
Lakija is almost roughly, desperately, practically *thrown* from the deck into the hatch, where she collapses in a feathered pile at the bottom of the steps, coughing and heaving.
Telgan follows her down, making a jump from the steps to the heaving deck to avoid stepping on the Shkrill. Now that he's out of the wind he isn't having quite so much trouble, though he stumbles several times after a less than stellar landing and crashes one shoulder into the wall.
Rakeeth pulls Lakija with him as best he can - its difficult work considering the heaving deck, that he feels none too well himself at this point and the pounding rain, but the hatch looms ahead, and he forces her through it... Before stumbling down afterwards, rolling on the way down and ending up upside down, wings splayed, partially atop the gryphoness. He rolls and scrambles awkwardly to his feet, watching out for the other three.
Khasra nudges Lakija and blinks. "Are you all right?" he chirks, nipping her a bit.
Khasra jumps back as Rakeeth crashes downstairs, the clumsy oaf. "Careful!" His yelp is almost drowned by the wind and rain outside.
Ja'hreet makes sure Khasra gets inside, and pulls the hatch closed after him. He hangs, swinging, from the wheel, before swinging aside, tumbling to a fall beside the other four. He shakes his head, and stands.
Lakija is still alive at least, as she looks up at Khasra. "What happened," she burbles - inside the ship at least nobody's getting wet. The ship still pitches back and forth, sliding against the wooden walls of the ship.
Ja'hreet stands, wings and legs spread for support, and lifts one foreclaw, digging through his carrypouch, frowning.
Khasra crouches low, trying to keep purchase on the rapidly dampening floor. "Apparently their 'clear skies' report didn't take into account the next sphere," he sniffs resentfully. "All that technology and not one drop of common sense."
Rakeeth grunts - water is still splashing in considerable volume through the open watchway, and he stumbles awkwardly up the stairs, noting that the ships heaves are even more difficult to weather inside of it, and he's feeling even greener. Still, he makes his way up to the top and hauls the hatch shut, leaving him dripping at the top of the stair well.
Telgan lets himself stay against the wall, half sitting and half laying there, using the corner for support. He rubs his shoulder gently, and mumbles, "Oww..."
Lakija is so sick, she doesn't care who is squishing her at the moment. She groans a little. At least there aren't any more worrying cracks of wood.
Rakeeth gives a sour growl of annoyance and stumbles awkwardly back down the stairs. Gryphons weren't meant for how steep they are, especially beak first, and in a heaving ship. Still, he makes it without too much incident.
Khasra nudges Lakija and grunts. "Can you walk?"
Ja'hreet gets what he's looking for. He takes some for himself, and gives a portion to Rakeeth and Telgan. He gives a smirk to the Shkrill pair, and gives some to them as well... One of the plants from Shkrilk. Nice, and green, and leafy. He takes his own portion, and stuffs it in his mouth, eating it distastefully.
Lakija looks at Khasra woefully. "Not far," she grumbles. Her eyes seem to swim with the rocking of the ship.
Rakeeth gives Ja a curious look, but accepts the offering dubiously... He nibbles a little at the leafy substance, then begins to chew it... its flavor doesn't please him either, from his expression.
Telgan chews it as little as possible before swallowing it with a sour look. "...What did I just eat?" he asks after a few moments.
The ship seems to toss less than it did when it first crossed. And now in the comparative quiet of the ships innards, the clackity clack of the ship's engine which had grown so familar has ceased.
Ja'hreet slicks his ears back, and swallows. Immediately, he sticks his tongue out. "Hrrrhhh... disgusting," he mutters, and looks to the Shkrill. "Well, eat it. It will ease the sickness. Or so the scrolls say."
Rakeeth breaths slowly... the nausea doesn't settle, but at least he doesn't feel any _worse_ than he did before. He moves a little closer, "You two all right?" He asks of Khasra and Lakija after a moment.
Khasra pads away, seeming to handle the rocking without much show of discomfort. He finds an empty cabin and returns, still holding the leaf. "This way," is his brief comment, leading her down the hall to rest out of the walkway.
Lakija is sick enough to consider it, yet looks at Ja'hreet distrustfully. "Chew flowers," she grumbles.
Ja'hreet shrugs. "Think of the bright side. It could be poison, and then it will all so soon be over."
Telgan says, "It better not be, Ja. If you make me die, I'll kill you!"
Lakija takes the leaf anyway and gets up and stumbles after Khasra, tail flicking behind her. The ship doesn't rock quite so much anymore, so she thinks she can make it without collapsing.
Khasra taps Lakija's beak with his. "Go ahead. I won't tell anyone," he whispers as they leave the Windhaveners behind. "And you can use mine if you need it."
Rakeeth glances at Ja, "I trust you won't object to sharing a cabin, hrrrr..." He looks around for another empty one.
Lakija hisses at Khasra briefly and follows him into the cabin, promptly collapsing as soon as she clears the doorway.
Rakeeth closes his eyes, "Rrrr... yes, I think I would prefer to be lying down right now... " He opens them again, selecting a free cabin and stumbling within...
Khasra finds the position of least potential (i.e., flat on his stomach and braced against Lakija) as well after shutting the door, putting the wall on his other side. "Well, if the boat sinks, we won't lack for live prey..."
Ja'hreet looks to Rakeeth, and shakes his head. "No... If only that there were more pleasant times to share it in." He follows after Rakeeth, unstably, to the cabin he selects.
Telgan trails after the others, not particularly sick, but enough to put him out of sorts. He huddles against the wall, as he did out in the hall, for support.
Lakija doesn't need to be frightened /and/ sick. Now behind the door, she eats the leaf - which is relatively difficult since all she wants to do is regurgitate the beef she ate.
Rakeeth finds a place to settle down, collapsing bonelessly, gripping lightly at his bunk... He closes his eyes, and just lies still, feathers sodden and miserable.
Telgan gives a low groan as the ship makes an unexpected lurch. His already-painful leg is starting to ache because he can't relax it without going sliding.. He carefully gets up and turns around, putting that leg against the wall where, at least, it won't take QUITE as much pressure.
Along the wall here is another one of those white pipes set against the wooden walls. Its much smaller than the one on the deck, but the captain's voice blaring out of it in common soon makes it obvious it has the same functionality. "This is the captain. We're sorry for any inconvienience suffered. There is no danger to the ship or to any of the passengers. The storm will subside soon. We will be making a short, unscheduled stop to repair some damage that was suffered during the storm before continuing to Nahutal. Thank you and have a nice day."
Khasra stays quiet, hoping his own nausea will calm down now. "If you close your eyes, you can imagine you're in a tree..." He makes a note to speak to the captain about this incident, and their bloody technology. "Incompetent," he rumbles again, then wheezes a little and lays his head on the deck.